DAVE Kitson issued a 'come and get me' message to Cardiff City after their goalless pre-season friendly at Cambridge United.

DAVE Kitson issued a 'come and get me' message to Cardiff City after their goalless pre-season friendly at Cambridge United.

Kitson, 23, led the Cambridge attack, showed some good touches and twice brought outstanding saves from City keeper Neil Alexander.

The red-haired Kitson, who has two years left on his contract at Cambridge, is now a dyed blonde and says he would love a step up from Division Three to the First Division.

"Cambridge United have been great to me and I love it here," said Kitson. "The gaffer (John Taylor) played in my position and he has taught me a lot.

"This is a fantastic club, but I also know I am capable of playing at a higher level and if the chance comes along I would jump at the chance.

"I'm deeply flattered that Cardiff City watched me last season. There have been some top-notch strikers at Cambridge over the years who have gone on to play at a top level - Dion Dublin and Trevor Benjamin among them - and maybe I will move on.

"If I do then I will always be grateful to Cambridge United. But until then I remain a Cambridge player and I am preparing for our season in Division Three.

"It was a terrific experience playing against defenders like Tony Vidmar and Danny Gabbidon and hopefully I did okay."

Cambridge have already turned down offers of #300,000 for Kitson - and value the young striker at half a million pounds. Stoke City and Charlton Athletic have shown strong interest.

Cardiff City watched Hitchin-born Kitson, 6ft 3ins tall, many times last season, but manager Lennie Lawrence said he couldn't judge the striker on his display at Abbey Stadium on Saturday.

Kitson was left alone in attack and Lawrence said: "It was impossible to judge Kitson - he was played on his own in attack.

"We'll maintain a watch on his progress. It looks as though he has something."

If City did move for Kitson it would be a signing for the future, a young, raw player who needs time to develop. He would not go straight into the first team.

City badly need to sign a top quality target man immediately and if, as looks probable, that costs up to #1m then a move for Kitson would be ruled out in the near future.

If the new target man, who should be in this week, is a loan signing then Lawrence could use the money he has available to move for Kitson and Rotherham United's talented young wide man Andy Monkhouse.